16 Best overwater bungalows and water villa resorts in the world

• Overwater bungalows: 12
• Total rooms/suites: 360

If the idea of strolling down miles of white sand beach, tanning at a resort pool, or relaxing in a steam room after an afternoon snorkeling adventure sounds like a dream, then you’ll find your oasis waiting for you at the Sandals South Coast Resort in Jamaica. Without hesitation, staff members, including a butler elite service,  go the extra mile to make sure that your resort stay is one for the record books. On-site you’ll find a few different restaurants and bars to enjoy, along with shopping, nightly entertainment, and a long list of water activities.

Though the land based rooms here are sure to please, the real attractions are 12 water villas that come complete with a glass floor cutout, an outdoor shower, an extended sun deck that offers stunning views of the ocean beyond, and a private water taxi.  From your bed, you’ll also be gifted ocean views that you can enjoy with your room service.

If you’re a fan of the Sandals brand, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are two other great overwater resorts within the Caribbean that impress just as much as Sandals South Coast. These resorts are the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort and the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort, which is also located in Jamaica.

• Low season online specials from US$3,244 per night
• High season online specials from US$3,270 per night

>More information about the Sandals South Coast Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 30
• Total rooms/suites: 158

A decently sized resort, the El Dorado Maraoma Resort in Mexico sits on the Atlantic coast in the Riviera Maya region and beckons visitors with 30 overwater bungalows, restaurants, swim up bars, yoga and cooking classes, and the Naay Spa. In addition, you’ll never run out of things to do during your stay as the resort caters with kayaking, water volleyball, dance lessons, and beach picnics.

The overwater rooms here continue to impress with a glass-bottom floor cutout that allows you to view the ocean below without actually having to get into the water, a private infinity pool situated next to your outdoor seating area, and an indoor jacuzzi. These villas are also very large and roomy, with floor to ceiling windows that offer you views of the ocean from your bed.

• Low season online specials from US$1,330 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,330 per night

>More information about the El Dorado Maroma Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 1
• Total rooms/suites: 7

Featuring a single overwater suite alongside 6 land based suites, the Cayo Espanto stands out as a self described “private island” resort. The overwater villa stands out from others in the area because of its size, and the amenities it presents. These range from an in-suite kitchen with a private chef for every meal, a personal butler, full spa services directly in your villa, a private sundeck, oversized Turkish robes, and much, much more.

The rest of the resort also impresses with sea kayaks, sailboats, and a professional massage therapist. Nearby, you’ll find lots to do with jungle trips, fishing, a golf course, and trips to see Mayan ruins.

• Low season online specials from US$1,595 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,795 per night

>More information about the Cayo Espanto Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 85
• Total rooms/suites: 120

A 5-star resort that’s rather large, the Conrad Bora Bora Nui is prepared to make your island getaway dream a reality. Here you’ll find very large overwater bungalows that offer fantastic views of the ocean, all around. Also, for a little extra viewing pleasure, you’ll find a glass floor cutout panel that allows you the option of viewing the ocean life below your room, without having to venture into the water yourself.

Though it will be difficult to leave your room or your private terrace, the world-class spa beckons with a steam room, a sauna, an open air treatment room, and a long list of treatments. You’ll also find a beach to relax on, fishing, sightseeing tours, snorkeling and scuba diving, a mini golf course, and outdoor movies.

• Low season online specials from US$1,227 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,163 per night

>More information about the Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 100
• Total rooms/suites: 121

The Four Seasons Resort family is both well known and admired, with resorts around the entire globe, each offering class and style with lots of bells and whistles. This particular resort, known as the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora impresses with 100 overwater rooms in addition to the 21 land based rooms. The overwater rooms here provide guests the opportunity to relax with a stocked mini-bar, bath amenities, bottled water that’s refreshed twice daily, and 24 hour room service.

Around the resort, you’ll find a spa that caters with massage facilities, an outdoor vitality pool, a drench shower, and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy the fitness classes, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, shark and bat ray feeding, and the two on-site tennis courts.

• Low season online specials from US$1,100 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,893 per night

>More information about the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 80
• Total rooms/suites: 83

A very large resort housing both land based and over the water rooms, the InterContnental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is a great vacation spot for groups and families. If you are part of a honeymooning couple and you don’t mind people around you, then this resort would be a great choice. This is because here you’ll find a spa, a private beach, a lagoonairum, 30 acres of gardens to walk around and enjoy, plus a lot more.

The rooms here are quite impressive with a bathroom TV, a private terrace and patio, a separate living room, dining table, and more. Due to how the rooms are assembled, they are more like small apartments than resort rooms.

• Low season online specials from US$1,299 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,038 per night

>More information about the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 77
• Total rooms/suites: 91

If you’re looking for luxury, you’ll find that here at the St Regis Bora Bora Resort. With over 70 overwater villas, you’ll find all of them to be quite large in size, more on the level of a house than a villa.  Each of these villas impress with a private terrace, 1 or 2 kingsize beds, Wi-Fi, a mini bar, 24 hour room service, and more.

If you’re looking for a spa vacation, then you’ll be delighted to know that the resort’s spa is 13,000 square feet in size and offers a very large array of treatments and massages. In addition, there are 4 restaurants on the resort property, as well as a poolside bar.

• Low season online specials from US$1,569 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,132 per night

>More information about the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 522
• Total rooms/suites: 716

Most of the best overwater resorts in the world have from between 10 and maybe 50 overwater suites. The Lexis Hibiscus has 522 of them in a recently-opened modern resort that resembles an actual hibiscus from above. Each of the water villas has a private splash pool on the front deck, which doesn’t provide as much privacy as some would like, but it’s an amazing place.

Another reason to consider the Lexis Hibiscus is that it’s incredibly affordable for what you get, and it’s very easy to reach compared to nearly every other resort on this list. You can book an affordable flight into Kuala Lumpur International Airport and then take a shuttle to be at the resort about an hour later.

• Low season online specials from US$111 per night
• High season online specials from US$159 per night

>More information about the Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 42
• Total rooms/suites: 78

Located on a private island, the Anantara Kihavah Villas resort is one of the newer overwater resorts in the Maldives, and is gaining many fans with its 5-star service. In fact, the overwater villas each have their own private outdoor pool, showcasing how private you can make your island escape. Each room also comes with Wi-Fi, 24 hour room service, a minibar, espresso machine, and an outdoor shower on your private deck.

Another impressive aspect of this particular resort is the Sea.Fire.Salt.Sky restaurant which is both overwater and underwater, creating a very unique and memorable dining experience. In addition, guests will find themselves privy to a pool bar and restaurant.

• Low season online specials from US$1,835 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,098 per night

>More information about the Anantara Kihavah Villas

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 38
• Total rooms/suites: 96

This medium sized resort houses both island suites and overater bungalows. Some of the overwater bungalows present a sunrise view, while others provide a sunset view. Nomatter what the view, you’re sure to be impressed with the sundeck, private bar, dressing room, and deep tub found in the bathrooms. If you’re interested in enjoying the warm ocean waters surrounding your room, there is a set of stairs that lead directly into the water below.

The resort’s spa has its own island and invites with a yoga pavilion, spa treatments, and much, much more. Of course that’s not all you’ll find here. The resort’s gym provides lots of different cardio and weight lifting equipment, there’s a surfing course available each and every week, and there is a library on-site.

• Low season online specials from US$2,218 per night
• High season online specials from US$2,218 per night

>More information about the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 56
• Total rooms/suites: 119

Featuring a variety of different rooms, from land based rooms to partially over the water rooms, to full brown overwater villas, the Lily Beach Resort and Spa offers an all-inclusive experience to its guests. Situated on a private island, guests here will find privacy reigns king with suites that offer a Maldivian outdoor bath concept with a private Jacuzzi bathtub. If staying in one of the 4 sunset water suites, you’ll find your very own private Jacuzzi pool.

Outside of the resort suites, guests will find an ocean pro dive centre, table tennis, an internet cafe, beach volleyball, 2 fresh water swimming pools, and a fully equipped gym. If you don’t want to spend your entire vacation jumping from one activity to the next, you might want to take a look at the resort’s spa. The Tamara Spa by Mandara is a 5 star spa that offers massages, treatments, and therapies that help you to unwind and relax.

• Low season online specials from US$1,223 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,314 per night

>More information about the Lily Beach Resort and Spa – All Inclusive

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 106
• Total rooms/suites: 286

A personal favorite of ours, the Meeru Island Resort in the Maldives offers amazing value for an all-inclusive stay in the Maldives. With 106 water villas (most of them have private Jacuzzis), they can offer better deals than the small places and still offer excellent service. I am always asked about the best of the cheaper all-inclusive Maldives resorts and I always tell them Meeru Island.

With almost 400 total rooms and villas, you might think that Meeru Island would feel crowded, but it’s actually the largest of these single-resort islands and the place feels very private and somewhat empty even when it is fully booked. Many people come back year after year, which is another sign of a fantastic resort.

• Low season online specials from US$518 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,062 per night

>More information about the Meeru Island Resort

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 25
• Total rooms/suites: 101

With 25 water villas available, the Robinson Club Maldives invites vacationers that are looking for a great snorkeling adventure alongside relaxing private villas. Here, guests will find a private island experience dripping with fun things to do. Though snorkeling is the most popular attraction here, guests also have access to scuba diving, catamarans, sailing, surfing and beach volleyball.

Rooms here are very large and feature their own Jacuzzi, indoor day bed, mini bar, outdoor day bed, 24 hour room service, and much more. There are also a few restaurants and bars on-site, including a pool bar.

• Low season online specials from US$450 per night
• High season online specials from US$620 per night

>More information about the Robinson Club Maldives

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 25
• Total rooms/suites: 57

At the Soneva Jani Residences resort in the Maldives, guests will find overwater villas that come in 1, 2, or 3 bedroom categories. Each of these villas, though different in size, all feature a private pool, outdoor shower, a kitchen, and a master bedroom. Because of this, you’ll feel more like you’re in your second home rather than a resort room, except for that this home comes with glass portholes that are cut into the floor.

Though the villas certainly are impressive enough on their own, the resort wins in many different categories. Here you’ll find a spa, several different restaurants and bars, and lots of different on-site activities to partake in. These activities range from the outdoor pool, to the tennis courts, to the library and different water sports. There’s also an overwater silent cinema to enjoy.

• Low season online specials from US$4,289 per night
• High season online specials from US$4,302 per night

>More information about the Soneva Jani Residences

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 54
• Total rooms/suites: 106

Situated on the beautiful island of Moorea, the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa is a great choice for those seeking an island escape at a lower per nightly rate. This resort offers guests lots of different activities, making it so that you never get bored during your stay. These activities are catered to those who want to spend their time outside and include scuba diving, water skiing, windsurfing, and more.

The overwater rooms themselves are fantastic as well, with each offering room service, a 37 inch satellite TV, air conditioning, a glass floor section, and extra little touches here and there, including bath slippers. If you like the idea of bringing leftovers back to your room from the on-site restaurants, then you’ll want to note the in-room mini refrigerator.

• Low season online specials from US$947 per night
• High season online specials from US$977 per night

>More information about the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa

>Check rates

• Overwater bungalows: 9
• Total rooms/suites: 59

With 9 overwater bungalows that sit on the Hiha Phu Bay in Vietnam, the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort caters to those looking for a relaxing tropical escape. Along with the resort’s on-site spa, you’ll also find yourself privy to a 24 hour butler, yoga pavilion, and a laundry service. However, if you’re up for some adventure, you’ll find snorkeling, volleyball, a dive center, hiking, fishing and much more.

Each of the 9 overwater bungalows here impress with amenities that include a private deck to view the ocean from, personal bicycles that are perfect for a mini adventure, a mini wine cellar for those evenings in, an open bathroom, and a private plunge pool that’s perfect for viewing the sunset from.

• Low season online specials from US$875 per night
• High season online specials from US$1,050 per night

>More information about the Six Senses Van Bay Resort

>Check rates